Device for firing multiple cartridges in a time sequence

ABSTRACT

For the purpose of firing a strip or sequence of cartridges and shells at timed intervals, as in an alarm, attention getting device, anti-riot device or means to produce a large amount of dispersed fire power, cartridges and shells, either blanks or fully loaded ammunition, in side by side relation in a housing, are disposed with a pyrotechnic delay cord or mild detonating fuse running from cartridge to cartridge across the percussion cap end. In one variation there is interposed between the initiator such as the pyrotechnic delay cord, a booster charge which in turn sets off the percussion cap. In another variation an initiator such as a pyrotechnic delay cord or mild detonating fuse runs across the open ends of the cartridges, which are loaded with a pyrotechnic or other suitable delay charge, each of the cartridges when its percussion cap fires being back to back with another cartridge, and having a suitable explosive charge or other pyrotechnic charge.

Elite States Patent [191 McGirr [76] Inventor: Robert McGirr, RD. 1 Box 272,

Orwigsburg, Pa. 17961 [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,063

[52] 11.8. C1. 102/70 R, 89/1 B, 102/27 R, 102/38, 102/39 [51] Int. Cl. F42b 3/02 [58] Field of Search 102/77, 78, 39, 29, 38, 102/24, 24 HQ 86.5, 70; 89/1; 42/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,268,016 8/1966 Bell 102/24 HC 2,887,054 5/1959 Bryan 102/28 2,761,383 9/1956 Sweetman 102/24 HC 3,319,522 5/1967 Gould et al..... 89/l.816 X 3,385,163 5/1968 Kotikov 89/1 R 3,367,266 2/1968 Griffith 102/27 R 3,336,871 8/1967 Quinlan 102/DIG. 1 2,652,775 9/1953 'Swanson 102/29 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 857,281 12/1960 Great Britain 102/28 EB Apr. 16, 1974 Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney, Agent, or FirmJackson, Jackson &

Chovanes 5 7 ABSTRACT For the purpose of firing a strip or sequence of cartridges and shells at timed intervals, as in an alarm, attention getting device, anti-riot device or means to produce a large amount of dispersed fire power, cartridges and shells, either blanks or fully loaded ammu nition, in side by side relation in a housing, are disposed with a pyrotechnic delay cord or mild detonating fuse running from cartridge to cartridge across the percussion cap end. In one variation there is interposed between the initiator such as the pyrotechnic delay cord, a booster charge which in turn sets off the percussion cap. In another variation an initiator such as a pyrotechnic delay cord or mild detonating fuse runs across the open ends of the cartridges, which are loaded with a pyrotechnic or other suitable delay charge, each of the cartridges when its percussion cap fires being back to back with another cartridge, and having a suitable explosive charge or other pyrotechnic charge.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR FIRING MULTIPLE CARTRIDGES IN A TIME SEQUENCE DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The invention relates to a device for firing a sequence or multitude of small arms cartridges in timed sequence. Small arms cartridges as referred to herein are defined according to the U5. Ordnance Department definition, as cartridges for rifles, pistols and the like having a bore size smaller than mm. and shotgun shells which are included whenever cartridges are referred to.

The invention is particularly useful to produce an alarm or attention getter, as well as to produce a large amount of dispersed fire power simulating the noise made by a large amount of independent small arms fire. It is also useful for fireworks, including the firing of cartridges loaded with pyrotechnic charges as distinguished from explosive charges. It is also useful as a source of dispersed fire power remotely controlled using fully loaded ammunition.

Among the alarms for which the invention is suitable are a personal alarm, an automobile or truck alarm, and a burglar alarm for house or commercial establishments. The device can be used to disperse crowds, to initiate a multiplicity of tear gas bombs, to act as a multiple fire set gun or to simulate the noise making qualities of a string of firecrackers.

Cartridges are commonly fired by a firing pin which imparts sufficient inch-ounces of energy to the primed cartridge case so that the explosive priming mixture is raised above the explosion temperature. In certain applications, where a quantity of cartridges must be fired mechanically. a feeding mechanism becomes very costly and cumbersome. In the present invention an entirely different approach is used, and a plurality of cartridges is fired without changing the position of the individual cartridges, whichare mounted as by a housing and the firing impulse transmitted from cartridge to cartridge by some initiating means, such as a pyrotechnic delay cord or a mild detonating fuse.

A purpose of the invention is to fire cartridges nonmechanically in a repetitive fashion, the timed intervals between the firing of individual cartridges being long or short as desired.

A further purpose is to find a simple means for raising a priming mixture of each of a sequence of cartridges to above explosion temperature, as by a pyrotechnic delay cord. A pyrotechnic delay cord is usually charged with a mixture of oxidizing agent and a powdered metal. This mixture deflagrates rather than detonates in the sense that the reaction products flow away from the unreacted material while in detonation they flow toward the unreacted material. This is of course an exothermic reaction.

A further purpose is to provide a booster pyrotechnic mix between the delay cord and the primer end of each of a series of center fired cartridges.

A further purpose is to fire a sequence of cartridges of rim fire or center fire type by shock from a mild detonating fuse in intimate contact with the primed end of each cartridge.

A further purpose is to place cartridges in pairs with the primer ends in contact, to ignite one of each pair by a pyrotechnic delay cord, mild detonating fuse, palladium clad aluminum wire which burns linearly or quick match, a pyrotechnic mix being in the one ignited, and to fire the other cartridge by shock from the primer of the cartridge ignited.

In the drawings I show a few embodiments of the many which could be devised, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and ease in explaining the principles involved.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the closed housing.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the cover of the housing removed and the cartridges in position in the chambers.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a left end elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a variation in which there are short barrels extending from the chambers.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a variation having the chamber elongated and a booster charge installed between the pyrotechnic delay cord and the primed end of each cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing cartridges used in double chambers with the primer ends in back to back relation.

In the invention it is contemplated that the troublesome feeding mechanism which normally moves cartridges be dispensed with and that the cartridges be fired as they are in place in a housing or the like by transmitting heat or a source of detonation to the primers of the successive cartridges.

In the preferred embodiment a series of cartridges is positioned side by side with the primed ends all facing in the same direction, in a housing or the like, and a length of lead encased pyrotechnic delay cord is placed in intimate contact with the primed ends running from cartridge to cartridge and the delay cord is ignited and transmits heat from cartridge to cartridge setting off the individual cartridges. As the pyrotechnic delay cord is ignited in a particular location, it melts its lead sheath and produces slag making considerable heat available, which heat elevates the temperature of the priming mix of the cartridge case, whether it be center or rim fire, and fires the cartridges one at a time. The heat given by the molten lead and the slag of the delay cord mix is more than adequate for this purpose.

Lead sheath pyrotechnic delay cords are available on the market in various diameters, various burning rates and various sheath thicknesses so that the user can adapt each installation to its desires. For this purpose a pyrotechnic delay cord having a relatively thin sheath is much preferable in order to expose the hot slag after it has melted from the calorific output. An example is a delay cord which burns at the rate of 2 inches per second, although other speeds are available. This cord has an outside diameter of one-eighth inch and provides sufficient heat to fire 22 caliber rim fire cartridges. For firing 22 caliber center fire cartridges, and other larger cartridges. a larger pyrotechnic delay cord will preferably be used.

In the preferred embodiment a housing 20 has a series of chambers 22 distributed side by side which fit cartridges of the type which are to be used. Each chamber has a suitable enlargement 24 for receiving the cartridge rim. While the cartridges are shown arranged in lines side by side, they may equally be arranged in spiral or other configurations.

The cartridges 26 each has a primer 27 at its primer end and a powder charge or pyrotechnic charge 28 extending from near the primer to the open end, which may be covered with wadding 29 in case the cartridge is a blank or may have a bullet 30 in case of loaded ammunition. Shotgun shells may also be used either as blanks or with shot loads.

The cartridges are not by any means limited to require that they be all of the same caliber, but they may be large and small cartridges in large and small chambers respectively.

The primers may be arranged for center firing as at 34 or for rim firing as at 36.

The charge may be a typical blank charge, a reduced charge as in the case of garrison ammunition or a full charge required for fully loaded ammunition. The bullets need not be of the metallic type but can be rubber or wax bullets if desired.

Immediately adjoining the primer end of the cartridge and extending transverse to it is a communicating passage 42 large enough to receive and support a pyrotechnic delay cord 44, preferably of the lead sheath type, the cord 44 extending out of the housing at 46 at one end so that it can readily be ignited or can be set off. The means of igniting the pyrotechnic delay cord forms no part of the present invention, but it can be ignited manually by pulling out a safety pin of a spring firing mechanism which firing pin detonates a confined percussion primer whose flame and gas pressure output ignites the pyrotechnic core of the delay cord. Also, electrical actuators may be used which apply an electrical impulse to a confined electric match firing mechanism which ignites a pyrotechnic charge and creates additional heat and gas pressure to ignite the cord mixture. Quick match may be ignited by flame. Mild detonating fuse may be set off by a detona tor, a blasting cap or certain types of primers. Palladium clad aluminum wire is ignited by sufficient heat to raise the aluminum above 660C. Access to the delay cord and passage chambers is permitted by removing a base 50 held by screws 52, and when the base is removed fired cartridge cases can also be removed and operative ammunition substituted. In some cases where bulletloaded ammunition is being used, the chambers 22 are extended by providing barrels 60 to direct the bullet (FIG. 6).

In some cases it is preferable instead of using a pyrotechnic delay cord to substitute a mild detonating fuse which is physically replaceable for a delay cord and imparts a progressive detonation which sets off the primers of the cartridges.

In some cases more energy is required than is provided by a particular pyrotechnic delay cord, and in such cases a booster pellet 64 (FIG. 7) is placed between the primer end of the cartridge-and against the delay cord so that the delay cord will more reliably fire the cartridge.

In another expedient according to the invention as shown in FIG. 8, cartridges are placed back to back with their primer ends in Contact. Thus there is in each position a bulletless or blank initiator cartridge back to back with a cartridge 71 fired by the initiator cartridge. The initiator cartridge is pyrotechnically loaded, having a definite burning time so that it can be set off by the pyrotechnic delay cord 44 running transverse to the open end of each initiator cartridge, and it will at a predetermined time set off by shock the final firing cartridge 71. A suitable mixture for the pyrotechnic loading of the initiator cartridge is a mixture of zirconium and barium chromate, or a mixture of zirconium nickel alloy, barium chromate and potassium perchlorate. Other pyrotechnic compositions well-known in the art may be used.

Instead of using a pyrotechnic delay cord having a lead sheath, quick match, palladium clad aluminum wire or a mild detonating fuse having a lead sheath may be used to initiate the explosion of the particular pairs of cartridges.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particu lar need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention Without copying the structure shown, and I therefore claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for setting off a multiplicity of cartridges which consists of a housing having a multiplicity of double chambers side by side, a bulletless percussion primed initiator cartridge in each of the double chambers, a final percussion primed cartridge in the other end of each double chamber, each cartridge having a primer at one end and a charge, the primed ends of the cartridges being restrainedly adjoining back to back, a pyrotechnic delay cord running to each double chamber adjoining the unprimed end of each bulletless initiator cartridge, the charge in the initiator cartridge being a pyrotechnic charge.

* l =l l 

1. A device for setting off a multiplicity of cartridges which consists of a housing having a multiplicity of double chambers side by side, a bulletless percussion primed initiator cartridge in each of the double chambers, a final percussion primed cartridge in the other end of each double chamber, each cartridge having a primer at one end and a charge, the primed ends of the cartridges being restrainedly adjoining back to back, a pyrotechnic delay cord running to each double chamber adjoining the unprimed end of each bulletless initiator cartridge, the charge in the initiator cartridge being a pyrotechnic charge. 